Some of my Best Work with Eric Hoke

Today’s Special Edition of “Your Best Work: The Podcast” is audio from Covo Con with Dr. Kevin Middleton and Covocational Ministry in the Black Church. Here are some practical takeaways.* Blend Marketplace and Ministry Skills* Pursue practical, marketable skills alongside ministry training. This dual approach provides financial stability and resilience, as seen during crises like COVID, and reflects Middleton’s pastor’s wisdom: “Bible doesn’t pay the bills, skills and marketplace degrees will.”* Embrace Shared Leadership* Move away from the solo-pastor model by identifying and empowering congregants’ gifts (e.g., through conversations or tools like the APES framework: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, Teachers). Delegate responsibilities to build a collaborative, sustainable church structure.* Prioritize Personal Health and Balance* Implement regular self-care practices: weekly therapy, monthly spiritual direction, a consistent Sabbath, and hobbies (e.g., gaming, hiking). Middleton’s use of a Google calendar to create margin and limit unnecessary meetings helps maintain sanity and vitality.* Engage Younger Generations Holistically* Recognize that Millennials and Gen Z value meaningful work outside traditional church roles (e.g., nonprofits, justice initiatives). Equip them to see all vocations as holy, fostering a church culture that integrates faith and daily life rather than competing with platforms like TikTok for influence.* Cultivate a Covocational Framework* Build a church culture where everyone’s calling is supported, not just the pastor’s. Host events like job fairs or faith-and-work series to affirm congregants’ marketplace roles, ensuring the church doesn’t stifle individuality but mobilizes it for mission.* Avoid the Celebrity Pastor Trap* Reject the mindset of being the sole decision-maker. Share responsibility to prevent burnout, enhance accountability, and ensure the church thrives beyond any single leader’s tenure, as Middleton illustrates with biblical examples like Moses and Jesus.* Have Fun and Stay Human* Incorporate enjoyment into ministry life (e.g., playing Mario Kart, walking in nature). Following Eugene Peterson’s advice to not take oneself too seriously, find hobbies and community moments that ground you and refresh your perspective.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Section 1: Using AI in Job Seeking:I answer the question of a listener struggling to choose a job, get callbacks, pivot industries, and ask how to use AI effectively. * Treat AI as a Career Guide: Input your resume, skills, and interests into AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT or Grok) to get tailored job suggestions or rewrites. Ask questions like, “What jobs suit my skills?” or “How should I rewrite my resume for this role?”* Optimize for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems): Copy a job description into AI, identify the top 10-20 keywords, and naturally embed them in your resume to improve visibility to recruiters. Avoid gaming the system (e.g., using hidden keywords).* Use AI as an Interview Coach: Paste a job description into AI and request 10 sample interview questions. Practice answering them, record responses, and ask AI for feedback to refine your answers.* Get Resume Feedback: Upload your resume to AI and ask for feedback on clarity, grammar, and redundancy to polish it.* Note: AI is ~80% accurate, so use it as a starting point and validate with professionals or industry peers for the remaining 20%.Section 2. How to write a book in Three Days:A listener with limited idea for a book asks me how I wrote a 40,000-word book in three days:* Preparation is Key: Over months, I outlined the book’s chapters, ideas, and stories in notebooks early in the morning. This created a “skeleton” before a writing retreat.* Distraction-Free Retreat: I wrote my manuscript over three days at Mount Savior Monastery (no Wi-Fi, spotty cell service). The monastery’s prayer schedule provided natural breaks every 2-3 hours, boosting focus.* Tools for Editing: Post-retreat, I used Grammarly (premium version) to fix over 2,000+ grammatical errors, spending ~20 hours refining the “crappy first draft.”* Book Details: The book, a hybrid of fiction and self-help, focuses on vocation, calling, and identity. Patrick Lencioni’s fable-style leadership books inspired it. It’s currently being queried for traditional or hybrid publishing.* Advice for Busy Writers: Jot ideas in notebooks over months, block a 3-day distraction-free retreat, and use tools like Grammarly for editing.Thanks for listening. If you have questions you’d like me to cover on this podcast, reply to this e-mail or DM me. Jeffrey Riggs produced this podcast episode.Music by Fyodor Zharkov from Pixabay Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Keith Roseboro, a certified career coach and recruiter, shares his expertise on transitioning from ministry to corporate jobs. He emphasizes the importance of identifying transferable skills and reframing experiences for recruiters. Keith advises against using church-specific jargon and highlights the significance of a polished LinkedIn profile for networking. He provides tips for effective interview preparation, including researching company culture and using the STAR method to showcase unique value. Listeners gain actionable insights to navigate the evolving job market.

Part 1: Why I Left TwitterAfter 100 days off Twitter, I reflected on why I decided to step away:* I was tired of the persona.I realized I was developing an inauthentic, one-dimensional version of myself on social media. People liked "Twitter Eric," not the whole me. That wasn’t the legacy I wanted to leave behind.* The negativity wore me down.Trolls, haters, and anonymous accounts became exhausting. Waking up to dozens of comments—some nasty—started my days with stress. The tipping point was when a tweet I wrote was taken out of context and dragged on Facebook by strangers who never even spoke to me.* God prompted me to step away.In prayer at a Benedictine monastery, I clearly sensed the Lord telling me to leave Twitter. It took me nine months to obey, but I’m better for it.* I want my legacy to be deeper than social media.I don’t want my kids to remember me as “really popular online.” I want them to remember me for my presence, not my posts.* Life without Twitter is better.I spend less time online and more time creating meaningful, high-quality content on Substack and this podcast. Surprisingly, my work hasn’t suffered—in fact, I've gotten more opportunities.Part 2: When Is It Time to Quit Your Job?I tackled a listener’s tricky question about discerning when to leave a job. Here’s how I responded:* Quit when staying harms your professional growth or personal integrity.If a job makes me a worse spouse, parent, friend, or version of myself, it’s time to go.* Please do your diligence.I always research prospective employers (Glassdoor, LinkedIn outreach, etc.), ask bold interview questions, and check the culture to avoid jumping from one bad situation to another.* Accept the idea of a bridge job.The next role might not be perfect—it could be a stepping stone. One-year stints won’t hurt my resume if I’ve shown long-term loyalty in the past.* Leave well—don’t burn bridges.I’ve returned to previous employers because I left with grace. I try to remember: the foot I step on today might be attached to the butt I have to kiss tomorrow.* Always have a solid exit plan.Whether it's savings, a new offer in hand, or a supportive spouse, I make sure the logistics are lined up before I make a move—especially if others rely on me financially.Final ThoughtsI’m building a life and career that reflects who I truly am—not who I pretended to be online. And I want to help others do the same. Thanks for walking this journey of vocation, calling, and identity with me.If you're on the edge of a decision like this, I hope my story helps you take the next right step.This podcast episode was produced by Jeffrey Riggs.Music by Fyodor Zharkov from Pixabay Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Big Ideas & Key Takeaways from the Podcast "Where Will Our Next Pastor Come From?"* The Future of Pastoral Leadership Is Uncertain* There's a growing clergy shortage, with more pastors over 65 than under 40.* Churches are struggling to fill pulpits, requiring a reevaluation of leadership development.* New Leadership Models Are Emerging* Younger leaders are resistant to traditional CEO-style pastoral roles.* They prefer collaborative leadership, team-based models, and flexible ministry pathways.* Many see ministry as integrated into everyday life rather than a full-time, church-centered profession.* Bi-Vocational & Co-Vocational Ministry Is the Present and Future* Financial and cultural shifts make it harder for churches to fully fund pastors.* More leaders are keeping marketplace jobs while serving in ministry.* This model aligns with younger generations' preference for side hustles and flexibility.* The Church Must Rethink Seminary Education* Theological education is vital but needs to be more accessible and practical.* Training should integrate more real-world engagement rather than isolating students in academic settings.* Leadership pipelines should start in the local church, not just in formal institutions.* A Shift in Discipleship & Evangelism Strategy* Many aspiring leaders don’t resonate with traditional church structures.* They want to live missionally in their neighborhoods rather than “run” a church.* The church must empower everyday believers to disciple and lead without requiring them to become full-time pastors.* Institutional & Denominational Challenges* Some denominations struggle to adapt, leading to a decline in traditional pathways to ministry.* A growing number of ex-evangelicals are exploring liturgical traditions but find them politically charged.* There’s a need for new models that balance theological depth with mission-driven flexibility.* Finding & Developing the Next Generation of Leaders* Pastors should focus on identifying people of character, not just traditional leadership skills.* Leadership development should happen organically—through mentorship, discipleship, and real-life ministry opportunities.* Churches already have potential leaders within them; they just need to be nurtured and empowered.* Economic & Structural Changes Are Forcing Innovation* The traditional full-time pastor model is fading due to economic realities.* Large churches may dominate in the short term, but micro-expressions of church are growing.* Future ministry models will likely require creative financial sustainability, with pastors working in both church and marketplace settings.As always, thanks for listening, and if you have questions you’d like me to address on the podcast - simply reply to this e-mail. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Here are the main takeaways from Episode 5 of Your Best Work Podcast:Here are the main takeaways from **Episode 5** of *Your Best Work Podcast* hosted by Eric Hoke:1. Different Motivations: - Pastors/ministry leaders tend to be people-driven. - Business leaders tend to be outcome-driven.2. Hiring Approaches: - Ministry leaders often rely on intuition, choosing people they like—those who are charismatic, likable, and easy to get along with. - Business leaders tend to overlook personal qualities if someone is highly competent or brings unique value—even if that person is difficult to work with.3. Consequences of These Approaches: - Churches often promote people who are pleasant but not always the most capable. - Businesses often tolerate brilliant but toxic individuals, which can be corrosive to team culture.4. Mutual Lessons for both groups: - Church leaders can learn from business leaders about using objective outcomes and performance indicators to guide decisions. - Business leaders can learn from church leaders about valuing collaboration, kindness, and people skills as much as output.This podcast episode was produced by Jeffrey Riggs.Music by Fyodor Zharkov from PixabayIf you have questions on calling, vocation and identity that you’d like me to address on this platform, just respond to this e-mail and I’d be happy to answer. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s Special Edition of “Your Best Work: The Podcast” features audio from Covo Con with Jon Rush. We discuss the next generation of leaders, side hustles, and embracing your weirdness in ministry. * Co-Vocational Ministry is Financially and Spiritually Sustainable – Jon Rush embraced co-vocational ministry after realizing that relying solely on a church salary wasn’t financially viable for his growing family. Having multiple income streams allows pastors to serve without financial strain.* Embracing Your Inner "Misfit" Can Lead to Effective Ministry – John reaches people who feel like outcasts, primarily through gaming and online spaces. He encourages embracing what makes you unique and connecting with those who might not fit into traditional church settings.* Gen Z and Gen Alpha Respond to Co-Vocational Leaders – Younger generations value flexibility and entrepreneurship. Seeing pastors who work in both ministry and the marketplace makes faith more relatable and accessible to them.* Authenticity and Niche Focus Are Key – Instead of being a generic "consultant" or "thought leader," Jon found success by focusing on his specific passions—youth ministry and video games. Pastors looking for side income should lean into their expertise and interests rather than chasing trends.* Being Co-Vocational Increases Ministry Freedom – John believes that additional income streams allow pastors to take roles where they feel called, rather than being forced into positions based on financial need. This also helps churches allocate more resources to outreach instead of salaries.* Relationships Matter More Than Networking – Building real relationships, rather than transactional networking, leads to genuine opportunities. John intentionally connects with people on social media in an organic way, which has led to unexpected ministry and business opportunities.* Ministry Should Engage with Culture, Not Avoid It – John leverages gaming culture to build a ministry, even organizing a communion service in Fortnite. Engaging with cultural trends rather than dismissing them helps reach people where they are.* Know and Serve the Next Generation – The best way to reach Gen Z and Gen Alpha isn’t through statistics and spending time with them. Instead of overanalyzing data, church leaders should invest in genuine relationships with young people.* Financial Stability Helps Long-Term Ministry – Co-vocational pastors avoid burnout by having multiple income sources, ensuring they can continue serving even if church finances change.* The Future of Ministry is Bi-Vocational and Digital – Jon sees digital platforms as a mission field. He encourages pastors to embrace online ministry, social media, and content creation as legitimate ways to disciple people.If you have questions on calling, vocation and identity that you’d like me to address on this platform, just respond to this e-mail and I’d be happy to answer. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Asking for a Raise When It’s Not Raise SeasonThis question was asked by someone who’s taken on extra work after a team member’s departure and wants to request a raise without seeming ungrateful:* Frame It as Contribution: Approach your boss with a solution, not a complaint. “I’ve handled Ken’s tasks for six months—could we nest their roles into my job description permanently?”* Extend Value, Not Demands: Highlight benefits to the company. “This could save hiring costs; I’d like to discuss fair compensation for the added scope.”* Market Test Yourself: Apply for other jobs every 3-5 years to know your worth—use offers to negotiate thoughtfully or switch if better.* Avoid Ultimatums: Don’t say “match this or I’m gone”; try “I’d prefer to stay—how can my growth here align with this offer?”* Build on Trust: Ensure a strong relationship with your manager, as leveraging external offers can risk trust if mishandled.* Increase Earning with Impact: More contribution justifies more pay—don’t ask for a raise without adding value first.Hiring a Spiritual Director for Life TransitionsA reader those curious about my decision to hire a spiritual director and how it differs from a pastor or therapist:* Seek Faith-Focused Guidance: Hire a spiritual director for major transitions (e.g., my move from New York to Pennsylvania) to discern God’s role in my transitions.* Define Your Need: Therapy digs into mental health; spiritual direction deepens faith and purpose—I chose it for a Christ-centered focus over self-focus.* Plan Midlife Intentionally: At 37, nearing half my lifespan, I used a director to shape my 40s-70s purposefully, inspired by Richard Rohr’s work.* Differentiate from Pastors: Pastors equip congregations, not individuals one-on-one long-term—their role as broader than personal direction.* Find the Right Fit: Unlike therapy’s mixed results, spiritual director Tim Pynes offers tailored, ongoing support twice monthly.* Explore for Yourself: If intrigued, research spiritual direction—it’s distinct from therapy’s coping tools or a pastor’s community leadership.This podcast episode was produced by Jeffrey Riggs.Music by Fyodor Zharkov from PixabayMy Spiritual Director is Tim PynesAs always, thanks for listening, and if you have questions you’d like me to address on the podcast - simply reply to this e-mail. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s Special Edition of “Your Best Work: The Podcast” is audio from Covo Con with Dr. Eun Strawser as we talk Shared Leadership. Here are some practical takeaways.* Shared Leadership is Essential – Ministry was never meant to be done alone. Eun Strasser emphasizes the importance of decentralizing leadership and empowering others to take ownership in the church.* Co-Vocational vs. Bi-Vocational Ministry – Co-vocational ministry is an intentional choice to remain financially independent from the church, whereas bi-vocational ministry is often a funding strategy. Co-vocational leaders demonstrate that discipleship isn't reserved for full-time clergy.* Discipleship Must Be Intentional – True discipleship isn’t about drawing crowds but about forming committed followers of Jesus who, in turn, disciple others. A smaller, deeper focus leads to greater long-term impact.* The Four Spaces of Belonging Matter – Discipleship happens in different contexts:* Intimate Space (3-4 people): Best for deep vulnerability and personal growth.* Personal Space (5-12 people): Best for learning and developing discipleship skills.* Social Space (20-50 people): Creates a sense of belonging and shared purpose.* Public Space (70+ people): Best for proclamation and making faith visible.* Missional Communities Multiply Effectively – Instead of a traditional church model, Eun’s church plants focus on missional communities, small groups deeply engaged in their neighborhoods. Their model grew from 12 people to 9 communities serving over 650 people.* Church is More Than Sunday Services – Many churches focus on attendance, but the true measure of success is whether a community is being transformed. Eun’s team prioritized serving the vulnerable, which led to long-term impact beyond a worship gathering.* Faith in Action Speaks Louder Than Words – During the pandemic, instead of trying to “pivot online,” her church asked, “Who needs help?” They fed 500 seniors monthly and created a sustainable model of discipleship through service.* Public Worship Should Engage the Community – Instead of traditional services, their church holds public gatherings that address societal issues, such as honoring marginalized groups and contending with systemic injustices.* Jesus’ Model of Leadership is Worth Following – Eun intentionally invests in a small group of disciples, just as Jesus did. By focusing deeply on a few, she has seen exponential multiplication in leadership and community impact.* Anyone Can Be a Disciple-Maker – The work of discipleship isn’t limited to pastors; every follower of Jesus is called to make disciples, regardless of their job or title.If you have questions on calling, vocation and identity that you’d like me to address on this platform, just respond to this e-mail and I’d be happy to answer. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode of “Your Best Work: The Podcast” I am fielding your questions regarding how to stand out as a content creator and and creative ways to fund your church plant. Here is the highlights:How to Stand Out as a Content CreatorIf you want to write a book and build an audience, these strategies can help:* Find Your Niche: There are "riches in niches." Be very specific about who you're trying to reach.* Leverage Personal Experience: Identify a challenge you’ve overcome and serve those who need that guidance.* Prioritize Consistency Over Quality: Posting frequently matters more than perfect content.* Repurpose Content Across Platforms: One podcast can be turned into multiple social media posts, articles, and videos.* Build Community, Not Just Content: Engage with your audience rather than just pushing out content.* Grow an Email List: Emails are 50x more valuable than social media followers. Offer something free in exchange for sign-ups.2. Funding a Church Plant in a High-Cost AreaFor an aspiring church planter wondering whether to quit their job:* Don’t Quit Your Job Too Soon: Many church planters struggle financially when they jump in full-time too early.* Bi-Vocational Model: Keep a job while growing the church, though this method has limitations.* Fundraising Approach: Treat church planting like missionary work, raising funds from churches and individuals.* Creative Funding Model (Preferred Approach): Diversify revenue streams:* High-flexibility job for steady income.* Internal giving from the congregation.* Support from individuals and churches.* Grants and denominational backing.* Renting church space for community services.If you have questions on calling, vocation and identity that you’d like me to address on this platform, just respond to this e-mail and I’d be happy to answer.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Eric Hoke at erichoke.substack.com/subscribe